communicating

Yeah, So many people loving the great weather thought it a good idea to go to the beach, the parks and other places to get away from home. Problems is…

Just like we did and yes there were more people out than we expected or were comfortable with when we went out but guess what? The next day there were so many more that the police had to close off parking lots to those places in hopes of discouraging the crowds and masses that were tired of being cooped up.

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There were so many people on the boardwalks and sand, that practicing social distancing became nearly impossible. But… no one turned away. So, closing off sections became necessary. They have now announced that there will be an $1,000 fine for those who don’t heed the crowd abatement rule!

It’s interesting, but people react in several ways. Those that thumb there nose and say, “by golly, no one tells me what to do”, there’s those who feel too much is being made of this and feel everyone is overreacting. There will be those frightened half to death and are trembling in their shoes and those who will draw inspiration from all this and vow to be more creative or more faithful. We will see those who believe it’s the end of the world and in some ways it just may be the end of the world as we know it. That it will have an impact on each individual, there’s no doubt.

One of the things noted on this mornings newscast is how many people are eliminating electronics and finding ways to engage with their families and children. They admit to major adjustments being made. Yes, they’re noticing some dissension and discovering how little they’ve been interacting with one another because of their busy schedules. Husbands, wives, children will find new ways to get along… I hope. So, yes we may start looking at things differently or… we may just go back to how things were.

In the meantime, communities are finding ways to stem the tide. sd2

Our community has opened up our convention center with cots for the homeless in our community, so they will not be wandering the streets spreading the disease around. What they didn’t say and I want to know is, is it even impacting the homeless? I thought it was a travel related disease. We got it because someone traveled somewhere else and brought it here. I really don’t know the answer to that.

My doctor explained that it is called a “novel” virus because so much of it is an unknown. We don’t know what it will do next. We don’t know enough of it’s characteristics. Even though the news focuses on certain ages, it is affecting all. So, don’t tempt fate!

Now if that isn’t motivating enough… Please read this:

Roseburg Health

Obviously, I am not out and about, so my information is coming to via the news and other sources. I too, must do without and staying in. My husband makes a post office drop each day and if I need anything he stops at the grocery store to pick it up. The crowds are not what they once were, he says. Today, we took a short walk and only saw one person across the street.

Even my gardener is gone, grass is overgrown and we can’t mow because we have no lawnmower. I’m still hoping he will show since he really doesn’t need to be in contact with us or anyone else other than his partner brother. Of course, it has been raining. A lot. He has a partially started project in our backyard and a wheel barrow collecting water and we, suffer a weedy, muddy backyard and overgrown succulents that have all but consumed our padre statue. I’m not Catholic, but I believe it is a Saint that guards critters. We found it at a yard sale some years ago and thought it was cool.

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We, in the meantime must wait for this to be over with. Everyday, we learn something new about this virus or we hear of another fatality. My hubby said he saw a stat that those numbers will start to grow exponentially. So, we wait.

Another thought:

What I think too, is that no matter what steps anyone in power does, when all is said and over and done with, the criticisms will be, they didn’t do enough or everyone overreacted. They will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t no matter what they do. Be kind.

So in the end, let’s be fair and considerate and do the best we can to help make this go away as quickly as possible.

I live far from my family and keep these links open to stay in touch with them, or so I tell myself but even so, I sometimes wonder why.

I wonder why I really want to see my family members in their various morphing stages when after reading some of their comments, I’m thinking maybe I’d prefer to disown them altogether and wonder how I can.

Several years ago when I first logged onto social media, I thought it would be a great way to keep in touch outside of handwriting them a letter. We are several states away and for awhile it was marvelous. I got to see what they liked and we’d talk and it was great. Then, things changed. I’d comment on some of their pics and controversial extrapolations, but found myself crossing swords with them and that’s fine, it was friendly. It wasn’t however, something I wanted to do on social media. I’m an eye to eye sort of debater, I want to look you in the eye when we disagree. You can see far more that way than by words alone. As it is, I unfriended grandson #2 because it was just too much. Every other word began with F—!

When grandson #1 begins postulating on various topics be they political, moral or religious, which he often does, I wondered how at the ripe old age of 16, he thought he could be an authority on anything. Unfortunately, the child is gifted with high intelligence and has a knack for being eloquently verbose.

Today, he legally grows Marijuana, yet I can see him one day … becoming the president of a large pharmaceutical.

His younger brother on the other hand may be singing the same tunes only far more discreetly. He seems responsible and polite and he’s not afraid of hard work.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Cuttin’ wood in Moab

He’s a diplomat. He seems to pretty much say what you expect him to, in other words he has all the makings of and could become a politician. Perhaps he’s better equipped to be president because you really don’t know what’s going on in this kids head. At the rate this country is going, I suppose he’d probably do a better job.

Will they grow up and turn out alright? Perhaps, but the transition is too painful to watch. Look at all the ex hippies that are heading major corporations now. Some actually became president and some are teaching our kids.

I will say this. When I talk to them (the grandkids) one on one and in person, they seem like very nice kids, but on social media… Yikes!

Their younger two siblings are so far doing fine. My grand daughter has begun filming her own little five minute shorts. Her slightly older brother is shy and seems to be staying out of harms way. He see’s his older brothers and seems to be taking a lesson on how not to be. One, of course, never knows until they are all grown.

The same for my grand daughters. On social media, for awhile there, they for all appearances appeared like hussies! I know, the word is dated but it fits. Their pictures all came across as provocative, impudent and superficial. In other words slutty. I wondered then, do I even want to know what they’re all really doing?

Then, my youngest second grand daughter, an unwed mother, does this twerking thing in front of a couple of boys, shows pictures and videos of herself in various situations and wonders why she keeps getting treated badly. She has no clue? One day I hope she will wise up. I hate seeing her hurting, she’s truly a good kid.

Her older sister, still posts a ton of pictures but does them beautifully.

She’s become a responsible mom and many of her shots are well done.

As for the next cycle of grand kids, who knows? I think they will be fine. For some reason, my first two were very lenient because they said I was too strict.

My son, the former Marine does not feel the same way. His children so far are doing fine, but they are still young.

As for me and my own social media presence. I try to keep it simple. I “like” and “share” what I find interesting. I try to avoid politics because, first of all, IF you judged my grand kids by what they post, you might wonder about them, so you can’t believe all that you see or read about a person by what is posted.

Social media can be manipulated way too much and too easily that is for certain.

Am I for Trump or Hillary? I won’t say. Both fall short tremendously and both come across as idiots no matter how you slice it.

I remember as a child, I wanted to read the Bible but really didn’t know how to go about doing it, so I decided one day to just close my eyes, open the book and let my little hand point a finger to the page or verse I’d start at. In this way I’d be letting “God” direct where I would begin. (That’s not how I intend to vote, but I did give it some thought). Eeek!

Whatever happens at this point, in any event, is in God’s hands anyway. I do believe that He is in control and will determine the outcome whether we think it’s right or wrong. I think everyone in this universe has his/her part to play and whatever “they” do is predestined for a time to work out His ultimate plan. Like people in the past, we will probably never see the end result of that plan, but it never hurts to pray for something better.